20:00, 7 November 2015

ECtHR recognizes investigation into Akhmed Buzurtanov's kidnapping as ineffective

Akhmed Buzurtanov with his daughter. Photo by Vakha Belkharoev for the "Caucasian Knot"

The right to life of Akhmed Buzurtanov, a coach of the Ingush fight club "Kaloi", was violated, and the Russian authorities failed to properly investigate his kidnapping in North Ossetia. This was recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The ECtHR has awarded monetary compensation to relatives of Akhmed Buzurtanov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 6, 2012, Akhmed Buzurtanov was kidnapped in the village of Maiskoe of the Prigorodny District of North Ossetia. According to local residents, unidentified persons forced him into their car and drove him away to some unknown destination. The ECtHR asked the Russian authorities to respond to the questions in the case; however, the ECtHR's request was ignored.

"The ECtHR has found a violation of the right to life in the failure to investigate the disappearance and awarded the complainants with the compensation in the amount of 20,000 euros and the compensation for legal costs in the amount of 3150 euros," said Oksana Preobrazhenskaya, a lawyer and an expert of the International Protection Centre in Strasbourg.

In February 2013, Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Evkurov reported about the progress of the investigation into the disappearance of Akhmed Buzurtanov. In particular, according to the Ingush leader, the Ingush authorities three times summoned relatives and witnesses for providing the information to the investigator.

According to Lisa Buzurtanova, a sister of the kidnapped man, the family members still have no information about the fate of Akhmed Buzurtanov.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Magomed Tuaev

Source: CK correspondent